Saturday, January 29, 2000
George's road to stardom runs through OSU
Offseason work makes Titans RB postseason star
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTA — The Rams will crowd the line of scrimmage to stop him in Sunday's Super Bowl. But for Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, it's nothing like the crowd that dogs him, needles him, loves him and inspires him in the Ohio State weight room.
Jacksonville Pro Bowler Tony Brackens trying to chase you down? Indianapolis sending everybody but Bobby Knight to stop you? Eight Rams from the NFL's best run defense digging in against you?
That's nothing. Try finishing second in a run around the track behind ex-Buckeyes Joey Galloway or Shawn Springs or Ty Howard or Robert Smith. Or worse, your friend and mentor, Raymont Harris. All are NFL players who have all started at one time or another, some in the Pro Bowl, but always come back to Columbus for offseason workouts.
Finish second and you won't hear the end of it.
“There's a tremendous amount of jawing, a tremendous amount of competition in there,” said Ohio State strength coach Dave Kennedy. “The big fear in there is not to be embarrassed in front of those guys. You can't be sensitive. They motivate each other by maybe saying something that gets in their craw. And you better not flinch.”
Only Hall of Famers and Hall of Famers-to-be Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders have gained more yards than George in their first four seasons. But George remains one of Kennedy's most loyal gym rats.
“I feel like that's my home,” George said. “Because they always treat you the same.”
Which is tough love.
“Coach Kennedy was a huge part of my life, even to this day he always found a way to punch those buttons to make me tick,” George said. “Especially early in my career. I wasn't very confident, but he got me to believe in myself.
“I was dedicated. I wanted to be the best. I went to Ohio State going in with a lot of competition and I knew that. Robert Smith. Raymont Harris. Jeff Cothran. They were considered one of the best backfields in the country and I wanted to give myself the opportunity to play.”
But Kennedy says he never had to play mind games. “It's always black and white with Eddie,” Kennedy said. “He's a challenge guy. He knows those guys are working as hard as him and the fact that Raymont is right next to him, you always want to be at your best.
“Eddie is one of these rare guys,” Kennedy said, “in that he wants to succeed more once he's achieved a certain level. You don't find many like that.”
In fact, one of those legendary workout days at Ohio State in 1996 is a major reason the Titans (then known as the Houston Oilers) took him with the 14th pick in the NFL draft. That day confirmed they were getting a solid back and maybe a locker-room leader in the bargain.
“Ricky Dudley and Terry Glenn and Eddie were working out,” said Titans General Manager Floyd Reese of three Buckeyes who would go in the first round. “There's 200 scouts and another 500 people in the building. Ricky Dudley is called to run (the 40-yard dash). Then Terry Glenn. Then Eddie. And the entire building swarmed to watch Eddie run. We had to stop and move people back before he ran.
“Then we go to the vertical jump,” Reese said. “Ricky walks through the crowd. Then Terry. Then Eddie's called. The whole building swarms again and we're saying, "Everybody back.' Very impressive. He commands that kind of respect.”
George heard all the knocks on his playing ability coming out of Ohio State. A fumbler. A tall guy who can't lower his pads. Maybe not so tough if the going gets tough.
But he's gotten enough tough yards that he's carried the Titans to this game with three workhorse playoff games for which he averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
“I've been running this way since I was five years old,” George said. “I'm 6-foot-3. I'm not going to change. I don't run hunchbacked. That's not my style. When I have to get low, I get low.”
And the leader Reese thought he was getting has emerged on offense.
“He's an emotional guy like me. Very intense,” said strong safety Blaine Bishop, the defen sive leader. “He started (leading) a year or two ago. He's the man. He wants to carry it on his back regardless of the situation. Everyone know he's going to get the ball. So what?”
On the eve of the Super Bowl, Reese is still scratching his head over the pre-draft questions surrounding George.
“Here's a guy who's 6-3, 240 pounds, runs a 4.42 (seconds in the 40) and catches like magic and has three percent body fat,” Reese said. “Good kid. Works hard. So you start thinking, "There's got to be something wrong with him,' and you start making stuff up.
“We came back from the workout and I said, "I don't know if he's going to gain 1,200 or 1,400 or 600, but I know he'll get what he's supposed to gain because we can count on him.”
How much man is the man?
“If I'm putting the job on the line and I guess we are,” Reese said. “I want the ball in Eddie's hands.”
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